Her body heaved again and Julia was quick beside her.
Then Lugaid somehow was there also, his dark eyes hold-
16
MERLIN'S MIRROR 17
ing hers. And from that meeting of their gaze came a
strangeness which removed her from the pain, sent her
spinning far out among sparks of light which might be
stars....
"A son." Julia placed the baby on the fair piece of linen
ready to receive it.
"A son." Lugaid nodded as if he had had no doubts
from the first that this would be so. "His name is Myrd-
din."
Julia looked at him with hostility. "It is the father who
names the son."
"His name is Myrddin." The Druid dipped a finger into
the bowl of water and touched the baby's breast. "His fa-
ther would have it so."
Julia hunched a shoulder. "You talk of Sky Lords," she
sniffed. "I am not denying that you saved my lady from
shame with such, when there were those who believed. But
there is not one even under this roof who believed wholly,
or will ever do so. They will say 'son of no man' and talk
tattle afar."
"Not long." Lugaid shook his head. "This will be the
first of his kind and through him the old days will return.
Those tales of the past are not only fhe words of bards
meant to amuse. Within them lies a core of truth. Look to
the babe, and your mistress." He glanced at Brigitta with
less interest, as if, having served her purpose, she was of
lesser account now.
Julia made a sound close to a snort. She bustled about
caring for the child, who did not cry, but lay looking
about him. In those few moments after his entrance into
the world, he seemed far more aware of his surroundings
than any infant should rightfully be. And the nurse, noting
that odd awareness, made a certain sign before she
gathered him up. Brigitta slept heavily.
It would seem that in Myrddin's early childhood Julia
